Scum cover

Released 40 years ago

Scum

Napalm Death · 1986

19 min · 12 tracks · death metal

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100
Foothills
Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album's chaotic structure and raw energy define early grindcore, though its brevity affects cohesion.

What we noticed

  • The album features 28 tracks, most of which are under two minutes long, creating a relentless barrage of sound.
  • Tracks often transition abruptly into one another, maintaining a high-energy flow without traditional song structures.
  • Vocals are primarily guttural growls, with lyrics that are often politically charged and delivered at breakneck speed.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
4/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Multinational Corporations 1:02
  • 2 Instinct of Survival 2:29
  • 3 The Kill 0:24
  • 4 Scum 2:40
  • 5 Caught… in a Dream 1:47
  • 6 Polluted Minds 1:01
  • 7 Sacrificed 1:08
  • 8 Siege of Power 4:03
  • 9 Control 1:31
  • 10 Born on Your Knees 1:50
  • 11 Human Garbage 1:34
  • 12 You Suffer 0:06

Reference: MusicBrainz · Wikidata